Page 86 of It Couldn't Be You
Gabe
I almost followed you out the door, but then you slipped out before I had a chance
Me
you could’ve chased me out
Me
it would’ve fit the vibe
Gabe
Taco Takeoff
Linda answered the door the next morning.
“Coffee?” she asked as I trailed in behind her.
“I’m all set, but thanks,” I said, noting that somehow the kitchen had been cleaned last night, even after all the cleaning crew jumped ship.
“How are you this morning?” she asked, walking to the coffee maker.
“I’m good. I’m a little tired but good.” I glanced around, looking for something, not sure what… Okay, I knew what I admitted to myself. I was wondering if Gabriel was up yet.
“Where’s Jack London?” I asked, half expecting the pup to be bouncing at my heels like he’d been so much of last night as we snuck him bites of taco.
“He sleeps in a kennel in Gabe’s room,” she said. “Those two are probably still asleep. Especially after that margarita night. How late were y’all up?”
“We actually weren’t up too late,” I said.
“Surprising. When we turned in it felt like the party was still roaring.” She turned her back to me as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
“You know, speaking of late nights… The other day, I remembered that night you and my mom stayed up until like three in the morning while Gabe and I rewrote his essay, the one he had spent weeks writing but then lost. Do you remember that night?”
“I forgot about that. I do remember. Your mom and I gave up around midnight and fell asleep on the couch if I remember correctly,” she said, turning back to me.
“You two were troopers,” I flung my hand to my heart. “Gabe and I were in awe of you both even then.”
“You two were the troopers. I can’t believe you were able to write in one night something he’d spent such a long time working on. Your mom and I were always in awe of what a little dynamic duo you two can be.”
“We can be a good team when we want to be.” I could see the morning sun glimmering through the kitchen windows.
“Man, I remember how stressed he was. Computers are fickle.”
“Typing on computers went on to be both our jobs, even after such a traumatic night because of them!”
“Traumatic, sort of.” She giggled into her steamy mug of coffee. “I remember you two laughing and snacking and having a bit of a ball. As dramatic as the stakes seemed, you two still had some fun. What was it Katie used to call you? The twins? Since you two are such peas in a pod.”
“Gabriel and I both hate the nickname, twins, actually,” I chuckled.
“Oh, you shouldn’t. We don’t mean it literally. It’s always meant you’re such a good team. We wouldn’t dare mean you’re anything likesiblings.” And the way she emphasized siblings made me want to blush.
I opened my mouth to protest, but she continued. “And it’s been so good to see the twins, or dynamic duo, I guess might be safer to say, no relation implied, back at it again. The past couple of years, I could feel him missing your presence. Like a little light was switched off.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I was definitely crimson now.
“I’d venture to say the lack was felt both ways.” She was all calm and collected.
